Method and apparatus for knitting run resistant fabric



1956 M. B. NEBEL ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING RUN RESISTANT FABRIC 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/a. Z

Filed April 10, 1963 Nov. 8, 1966 M. B. NEBEL ETAL 3,283,542

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING RUN RESISTANT FABRIC Filed April 10, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5y @Jsij 3, 1965 M. B. NEBEL ETAL 3,283,542

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING RUN RESISTANT FABRIC Filed April 10, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 by? 49m A 7' ORA 5Y5.

Nov. 8, 1966 M. B. NEBEL ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING RUN RESISTANT FABRIC 5 Sheets-Shee't 4 Filed April 10, 1965 3, 1966 M. B. NEBEL ETAL 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING RUN RESISTANT FABRIC Filed April 10, 1965 5 Sheets-$heet 5 By @JEQJI United States Patent 3,283,542 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING RUN RESISTANT FABRIC Max B. Nebel and Erhard M. Nebel, Wiesbaden, Germany, assignors to Hanes Corporation, a corporation of North Carolina Filed Apr. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 272,159 Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 10, 1962, N 21,435; June 6, 1962, N 21,669 6 Claims. (Cl. 66-108) The invention relates to a method of and circular knitting machine for the production of fabric in which thread loops not formed into stitches in forming one course are knitted together with stitches of the next course, so forming double thread stitches.

Methods for knitting in such thread loops into the next course have been previously proposed but special needle motions have been required which cannot be carried out with normal means, in circular machines for knitting stockings.

The present invention proposes a method whereby with usual means and needle motions for the production of tuck stitch structures it is possible to knit in tuck loops with stitches in the following course. Circular stocking knitting machines having a strong system for drawing down the fabric through the machine are more suitable for this method.

According to the invention the method is such that the thread in making a tuck loop course is :pulled to loops of equal size by all needles over a loop sinking point of the sinker which lies on or behind the sinker hook, but stitches are formed by, and previous stitches cast off from, only every second needle whilst the intermediate needles (with previously formed stitches in their hooks) pull the thread to form tuck loops the needles which have produced tuck loops then moving upwards so that the previously formed stitches which remained within the needle hooks are cleared below the open and downwardly lying latches and onto the stems of the needles while the tuck loops remain on the open and downwardly lying latches, after which these needles, together with the other needles, again take up yarn and produce stitches in the next stitchforming procedure, whereby the needles having the tuck loops in the hooks produce double thread stitches and the other needles produce single thread stitches.

It is not essential that the stitches and tuck loops in the tuck loop course be produced of a loop length different from that of the stitches in the normal course without tuck loops, but different loop lengths as between the respective courses may be obtained (for example, making the stitches and tuck loops in the tuck-loop course longer than the stitches in the other course) by using loop sinking points of the sinkers at different levels or by adjusting the knitting cams for the needles at different levels, if circular knitting machines with more than one feeder are used.

The drawings show by way of example the method according to the invention and suitable sinkers for carrying it out in a circular knitting machine.

FIG. 1 shows a part of the needle motions for the production of tuck loops.

FIG. 2 shows in front view another part of the needle motions for the stitch-forming procedure.

FIG. 3 shows in elevation a needle and sinker position on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a needle and sinker position for the separation of the thread loops from the stitches in side elevation taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a special loop sinking position of needles and sinkers in side elevation with modified shape of sinker.

FIG. 6 shows in plan a portion of the needle and simer circle and the cams which act upon the sinkers.

FIG. 7 shows a partial development of the needle ]B.CKS and the path of travel of the needles in relation to the knitting cams.

FIG. 8 shows a further sinker shape suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show further sinker shapes.

FIG. 11 shows the loop sinking position of needles and sinkers in side view where a sinker like that of FIG. 9 but slightly modified is used.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the operating positions, if the sinker according to FIG. 11 is used.

FIG. 14 shows a ditterent sinker shape.

FIGS. 15, 16, 17 show the operating positions, if the sinker according to FIG. 14 is used.

FIG. 18 shows the operating position of needles and sinkers which results in the tuck loops leaving the needle hooks.

FIG. 19 shows a movable rising cam for the needles, in the position according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 can be regarded as taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 13 as taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

Specially shaped sinkers are provided to enable the method according to the invention to be carried out in circular stocking knitting machines. The preferred sinkers P are shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 18 and have been designed in such a way that the thread is pulled to loops behind the sinker hooks Ph by all needles, for the production of both stitches and tuck loops. The modified sinkers of FIG. 5 have been designed in such a way that the thread is pulled to loops by all needles on a lower lying part Pe of the top edge of the sinker hooks Ph.

The shape of the sinkers and the method of operating them in correlation with the needles N, must be such that the sinker keeps the previously for-med stitch B which is still on the needle and the tuck loop F which at this time is also on the needle at such an adequate distance away from each other (FIGS. 2 and 4) that the tuck loop F can be positively maintained on the latch Z until it is knitted in the next stitch forming procedure, whilst the stitch B is brought below the latch onto the stem of the needle so that it can be cast off the needle during the next stitch forming procedure. With sinkers as in FIG. 3, the course with the full complement of stitches may be formed on the loop-sinking point Pa and brought in front of the sinker throats before forming the tuck loop course.

If according to FIG. 5 the thread for the course with tuck loops is pulled to loops by all needles on a loopsinking point on the sinker hook Ph then the height of the rear portion of the sinker hook Ph should be a little less than usual, a recess Pe being provided in that edge and the height of the sinker throat Pk is therefore made somewhat smaller in proportion. In this form of sinker the top edge of the sinker hook Ph from the recess or cut out portion Pe (which provides a loop sinking point) to the tip Ps of the sinker hook, i.e., over the part Pb,

is at a higher level. By slight withdrawal of the sinkers, this portion Pb serves to separate the stitches B and tuck loops F. When these sinkers, FIG. 5, are used, the course comprising stitches A and tuck loops F is produced on the loop sinking point Pe on the sinker hooks Ph, whilst a normal course including stitches B and the stitches which are cast off in forming stitches A (and no tuck loops) is produced in front of the sinker hook Ph on the usual loop sinking point Pd.

Another advantageous form of sinker for obtaining the greatest possible distance between the stitches B and thread loops F by means of the sinker hooks Ph, is shown in FIG. 8. The casting-01f throat Pk of this sinker is very narrow at the rear portion, so increasing the depth J of the hook, Whilst the front of the throat Pk to the tip Ps of the hook may increase in depth, e.g., may have the usual width in the region of the said tip Ps. From this tip the shape of the top edge of the sinker hook is such that first it slopes obliquely upwards and rearwards, then proceeds horizontally and then, behind the sinker throat Pk and to a little distance from the throat, it curves down or is obliquely inclined to the loop sinking point Pa v which is higher than the loop sinking point Pd (although it may be of the same height as Pd) in front of the sinker hook Ph. With this construction the course comprising stitches A and tuck loops F may be formed behind the sinker hook Ph on the loop-sinking point Pa, whilst the normal course without tuck loops may be formed on the usual loop sinking point Pd in front of the hook Ph' although that course may also be formed behind the sinker hook Ph and brought into the sinker throat by sinker movement before the tuck-loop course is formed.

In a circular stocking knitting machine for the production of run-proof fabric comprising tuck loops the needles N or N (N in FIG. 7) may be selected in a known manner by the needle jacks T T and moved upwards to such an extent that the stitches which are on these needles are cleared below the open and downwardlylying latches onto the needle stems (the needle butt position of the needles N being shown in FIG. 7) so that they shall be cast-off during the next stitch-forming procedure, whilst the other needles N which are not selected by the needle jacks remain in their lower position in which the stitches B still remain on the open and downwardly-lying latches and thus proceed into the next stitch forming procedure. To produce courses comprising stitches A and tuck loops F and with stitches A and tuck loops F in each Wale, the needle N and the needles N must be moved alternately into the described operation positions. If the course comprising stitches A and tuck loops F is produced behind the sinker hook on the loop sinking point Pa, the sinkers P (FIG. 6) are moved earlier than usual between the needles, by means of an additional sinker cam P (the usual cam being P and starting from the curved portion P so that the thread on the sinker Px can be laid on the loop-sinking point Pa. The needles N remaining in the lower position, take up thread in their hooks and with this I thread and the stitches B in the needle hooks, proceed together with the needles N into the loop-sinking position so that the thread is formed by needles N into tuck loops F of the same loop length as the stitches A on the needles N (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3).

After the stitches A and the tuck lops F have been produced, the needles N N proceed in the rotating direction R (FIG. 1) and the sinkers P (FIG. 6) carry out their casting-01f motions whereupon the needles start rising into a common level, still having the stitches B and the tuck loops F on the open and downwardly-lying latches Z. The needles follow their path of travel in the rotating direction R and the needles N N proceed into the height position Ny shown in FIG. 2. Whilst the needles N are rising to the position Ny shown in FIG. 2 the sinkers P are withdrawn out of their inward position Pv (FIG. 6) and beyond the loop sinking position (see sinker Px) in relation to the needles N to such an extent and by means of an additional sinker cam P that the tuck loop F which has been pulled by the needle is displaced along the rear of the top edge of the sinker hook Ph (along Pt in FIG. 3) in an upward direction and therefore into a higher position (i.e., to the region P of the top edge of the sinker). As a result, a tuck loop F (FIGS. 2 and 4) lies on the region P0 of the top edge of the sinker hook of two sinkers P so that by an upward motion of the needles N N into their highest position NV (FIGS. 2 and 4) an adequate distance is created between the tuck loop F and the stitch B on the needle N the tuck loop F still lying on the open and downwardly lying latch Z so that it-can be knitted in during the next stitch forming procedure, whilst the stitch B will be cleared below the latch onto the stern of the needle so that it can be cast off during this next stitch forming procedure. I

This separation of the tuck loops F from the stitches B by means of the sinker hooks Ph (see FIG. 4) is maintained as to the sinkers between needles Ny until the needles which follow the needles Ny in the rotating direction R have descended a little for the next stitch forming procedure (FIG. 2). If the sinkers P of FIGS. 3 or 8 are used, the sinkers P for the following stitch forming procedure are moved again further into the needle circle by means of the curved edge P11 of the additional sinker cam P4 so that the thread is pulled to loops by the needles on the loop sinking point Pa, thereby forming the tuck loops F, together with the new thread, into double thread stitches. It is of no importance if during this forming procedure a course comprising tuck loops F or a normal course (in which the tuck loops F of the previous course are knitted in with the stitches for the formation of double thread stitches) is produced, i.e., the tuck loop course may be formed at either feeder. The sinkers will be withdrawn before the next-stitchforming procedure to bring the last formed course in front of the sinker hook.

If however the sinkers P of FIG. 5 are used and the normal course is formed in front of the sinker hook, these sinkers with their hooks Ph are in the usual manner, withdrawn out of the needle circle by means of the sinker cam P3 (FIG. 6) which is then located further outwards than is shown in FIG. 6, so that without the cam P4 but only by the usual cam P7 the sinkers are operated in such a way that the thread for the next stitch forming procedure is pulled to loops by the needles over the usual loop sinking point Pd of these sinkers. The needle Nx shows the completion of the loop sinking motion (FIG. 6).

It is also possible to use this method (pulling the thread to loops on the loop sinking point Pd) with sinkers shaped as in FIGS. 3 and 8 for a normal course without .tuck loops, because only the tuck loops after being formed have to be displaced onto the top edge of the sinker hook Ph to P0.

If the course with tuck loops F is formed (FIG. 5) directly on the loop sinking point Pe of the sinker hook Ph and the tuck loop F is formed at a higher position than the stitch B, the sinker P is moved in between the needle circle only to such an extent that the thread arrives on the sinker hooks, this sinker motion being obtained by the cam P8 shown in dotted lines (FIG. 6). The cam P12 causes an additional casting 01f motion of the sinker.

If the course comprising tuck loops F is to be produced of stitches or loops larger than those in the course without tuck loops, this may be obtained either by using a higher lying loop-sinking point of the sinkers P for the course comprising tuck loops or if the loop sinking points of the sinkers are at the same level, or at approximately the same level, for both the courses the desired difference may be obtained by adjusting the knitting cam for the course comprising tuck loops, lower than the knitting cam for the normal course.

The needles N N after one or more stitch forming procedures may periodically exchange their method of operation after a predetermined number of needles and before the production of tuck loops whether or not normal courses are knitted into the fabric. Selection may be obtained in any suitable known way and by any suitable selecting mechanisms. Stitch structures as shown FIG. 7 shows needle jacks T T which are operated by means of pushers S1, S2 by way of example. The upward motion caused by the needle jacks T on the needles N and the upward motion caused by the needle jacks T on the needles N by means of the pushers S1, S2 must be such that the needles N are raised into the position shown in FIG. 7 and therefore the stitches on the needles N are cleared below the open and downwardly lying latches, and subsequently these needles are moved downwards somewhat .by means of the auxiliary cam K3 (FIG. 7). The other needles N which are not to form stitches but tuck loops follow the path shown as a dashed line (the knitting cam K2 being withdrawn) in such a low position that the stitches last-formed by these needles remain on the open and downwardly lying latches, whereupon all needles N and N are drawn downwards into loop sinking position by the knitting cam K1.

The modified sinkers and the methods of operating them now to be described are particularly useful when long tuck loops are to be formed on or behind the sinker hooks without a strong taking down system and when it is important to ensure that the long tuck loops will be kept in the needle hooks during the rising of the needles from the lowest loop sinking position and when there is a risk that these loops (because of their length) may leave the open needle hook before the needle hook has even reached the height of the loop sinking point on the sinker hook.

FIG. 9 shows a sinker P with a cut-away portion Pe which has an oblique edge Pi. The lowest point of the cut-away portion Pe (like that in FIG. 5) lies above the sinker throat Pk (which is made narrowof small depth) and slightly in front of the innermost end of the throat. The top edge of the sinker hook, from the top of the edge Pi, curves steeply downwards and rearwards to a horizontal loop sinking point Pa located at a small distance behind the sinker throat Pk and at the same level as (although it may be higher than), the usual loop sinking point Pd in front of the sinker hook Ph.

FIG. 10 shows another form of sinker P1, in which the back of the sinker hook together with an extension Pc behind the hook forms a cutout Pb, the lowest point of this cutout Pb forming a loop sinking point lying higher than the sinker throat Pk and higher than, or at the same level as, the usual loop sinking point Pd in front of the sinker hook.

To produce long tuck loops on the sinker hook Pk, of the sinkers according to FIG. 9 (and the same applies to the sinker shown in FIGS. 10 and 14-17 hereinafter described), it is required to maintain the distance be tween the loop sinking point of the cut away portion Pa and the loop sinking point Pd as small as possible so that not too steep a descent of the needles N is required during the sinking of the thread to loops and to avoid two needles at one time pulling the thread to a larger loop length.

In order not to produce too large a loop length for the course comprising stitches A and tuck loops F when pulling the thread on the loop sinking point Pe into the lowest position of the needles, the hooks of the needles N N are pulled downwards not very much below the usual loop sinking point Pd on which the knitted fabric lies. This is indicated in the somewhat modified form of sinker shown in FIG. 11 and the .same applies to the sinker shown in FIG. (hereinafter described). The sinkers, FIGS. 9 and 10, with the long tuck loops sunk on the loop sinking points formed by the cut-out portions Pe (FIG. 9) or Pb (FIG. 10) when thrust forward will tension the tuck loop and urge it against the needle hook and enable it to rise with the needle and be prevented from leaving the hook during the initial rise of the needles. The action is more specifically described in the following description of FIGS. 11 to 13.

FIG. 11 shows by way of example how the needle N which has the stitch B in its hook, pulls the new thread into a long tuck loop F on the cut-away portion Pex. After the completion of the loop-sinking procedure when the needles N N start rising, the sinker P =moves further int-o the needle circle to cast off the stitches, and therefore the long tuck loop F (which lies in the cutaway portion Pex) becomes tensioned by the action of the oblique edge Pix, and is kept in the needle hook, as indicated in FIG. v

The needles N will rise further to such an extent that the tip of the latch Z will remain in position between the stitches B and the tuck loops F on these needles (-see FIG. 13), the tuck loops, because of the displacement of the sinkers rising up the inclined edge Pix. If certain types of yarn are used which have the property of allowing the very long tuck loops inherently to stand up or be self-sustaining it is not essential to keep them separated from the stitches by means of the sinker hooks Ph, and the sinkers P may remain in their position. When the next course of loops without tuck loops F is formed and stitches are produced by all needles, this course is advantageously formed on the loop sinking point Pa behind the sinker hook Ph, the stitches being brought into the sinker throats before the tuck loop course is formed.

If the sinker P1 (FIG. 10) is used, the long tuck loop F is kept in the needle hook by the extension Pc which has a vertical edge which thrusts the tuck loop F onto the needle hook.

FIGS. 14 to 17 show another form of sinker P2 which has on the sinker hook Ph a cutaway portion Pez as a loop sinking point. Pk and the tips Ps of the hook is slightly raised. The loop sinking point Pez lies behind the tip Ps of the sinker somewhat in front of and above the innermost end of the From the loop sinking point Piez an edge sinker throat. Pci rises obliquely and joins a horizontal edge Po. This horizontal edge P0 is situated above and partly in front of and partly behind the innermost end of the sinker throat Pk.

The edge P0 of the sinker P (FIGS. 14 to 17) has also for its object to keep the long tuck loops F (which are pushed upwards by means of the oblique edge Pci) and the previous stitches on the needles separated at a greater distance away from each other.

If the sinker P (FIGS. 14 to 17) is not provided with a loop sinking point Pa behind the sinker hook Ph, the horizontal portion P0 may be situated wholly behind the innermost end of the sinker throat Pk. If however a loop sinking point Pa is provided behind the sinker hook Ph, the edge P0 should preferably lie above and at least extend in front of the sinker throat Pk so that the width of the sinker hook from the sinker throat Pk to the loop sinking point Pa can be kept narrow.

If the sinker P FIGS. 14 to 17, is used, the method of operation is similar to that described in FIG. 9 or FIGS. 11 to 13 but for the fact that the long tuck loop F is formed on a loop sinking point Pez on top of the sinker hook Ph which lies at a greater distance away from the end of the sinker throat Pk and towards the free tip of the sinker hook Ph.

With this sinker P the long tuck loop F is also kept in the needle hook by the oblique edge Pci during the casting-off motion of the sinkers (FIG. 16) and when the needles rise further they are brought onto the higher lying surface P0. FIG. 17 shows the needle N which has proceeded into its highest position in which the tuck loop F lies on the edge Po so that a separation of the tuck loop F, which still lies on the open and downwardly lying latch Z, and the stitch B which lies in the sinker throat and is still on the stem of the needle, can be very efficiently effected because of the ample distance between the sinker throat Pk and the surface P0.

The sinker P (FIGS. 14 to 17) may be provided with a loop sinking point Pa behind the sinker hook Ph, and this may then be at the same level as, or lower than the usual loop sinking point Pdand the edge Pa situated above and in front of the end of the sinker throat Pk.

With an edge P0 lying at a high level and above the innermost end of the sinker throat Pk, it is advantageous to n This sinker also has a small sinker throat form the course of loop-s without tuck loops on the loop sinkin-g point Pd in front of the loop sinking point Pk, as is shown in FIG. 14. The knitting earns for the needles 'for the production of both the courses, one with and one without tuck lOOps, in relation with the required stitch sizes, may be adjusted at different levels in relation to the loop sinking points of the sinkers, see FIGS. 14 and 15. If with this-form of sinker the sinker point Pa is used for forming the tuck loop course the sinker will be withdrawn a little out of the needle circle to separate 'the stitches from the tuck loops so that the tuck loops may be moved from the loop sinking point Pa over the curved back of the hook onto the edge P0. The loop sinking point Pa may be higher than the loop-sinking point Pd whether or not the knitting cams be differently adjusted.

FIG. 18 shows that with an insuificiently strong takeup of the fabric and without an edge Pi, Pix, or Pci to thrust the tuck loop F against the needle hook, the thread tips of the latches positioned in between the tuck loops F and stitches B, also changes. In order to adjust the rise of the needles N N in relation with the change in the level of the sinkers P, a needle raising cam S (FIG. 19) which causes the needle to rise in the highest position (FIGS. 13 and 17) before thestitch forming procedure where the tuck loops F are knitted in with the stitches, moves automatically and to the same extent as the needle cylinder in an upwards or downwards direction.

FIG. 19 shows by way of example a portion of the attachment with the raising cam. The raisin-g cam S can turn and operate upon the needles N N in such a way, that from the position shown in dotted lines, it can be turned to raise the needles into any required height position.

Block K supports a bolt 0, at the other end of which a lever T is connected which is operated by a lever H (having an adjustment screw H1) which turns inthe bearing L. The lever H in turn is connected with a lever H2 which in conjunction with other levers, transfers the required motion for the cam S which motion is caused by the same means as causes the raising or lowering of the needle cylinder. If a two-position motion of the cam S is required (for example for the production of usual fabric) then this can be obtained in the usual Way by means of buttons on the main drum.

We claim:

1. The method of producing knitted fabric on a circular, latch needle knitting machine, which comprises forming stitches by all needles to provide a course of stitches; raising predetermined needles to clear the stitches last formed thereby from the needle latches onto the stems of said needles and raising the remaining needles to tuck level; then, with the last formed course in front of sinker hooks, pulling the thread to loops on all needles on a loopsinking point on or behind the sinker hooks, thereby forming stitches by and casting ofli stitches from the said predetermined needles while the remaining needles retain the previously formed stitches in their hooks and below the sinker hook and form the thread to tuck loops; then raising all needles with the said tuck loops each lying across one needle and over two sinkers, one on either side of the needle, while so displacing the sinkers relative to the needle circle that the said retained stitches are brought below the needle latches and onto the needle stems while the tuck loops remain on the needle latches, and knitting the tuck loops with stitches formed in the next course.

2. A method of producing knitted fabric on a circular, latch needle knitting machine, characterised in that after one stitch forming cycle the thread is pulled to loops by all needles on a loop-sinking point on sinkers which is on or behind the sinker ho'oks whereby every sec-0nd needle produces stitches and the previously produced stitches are cast ofi the said needles while the intermediate needles retain previously formed stitches in their hooks and from the thread in-to tuck loops, displacing said tuck loops, by displacement of the sinkers relative to the needle circle, onto a high lying point of the sinkers, raising the needles to such an extent that the said retained stitches are brought below the needle latches and onto the needle stems while the tuck loops remain on the needle latches, and then knitting the tuck loops with stitches formed during the next stitch-forming cycle.

3. A method according to claim 1, in which each said tuck loop after being pulled on loop-sinking points of two adjacent sinkers is brought onto higher points of the said sinkers than the said loop-sinking points by movement of the sinkers outwards in relation to the needle circle.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which each said tuck loop after being pulled on loop-sinking points of two adjacent sinkers is brought onto higher points of the sinkers than the said loop-sinking points by movement of the sinkers inwards in relation to the needle circle.

5. A sinker having a loop sinking point formed by a cutaway portion on the top of the sinker hook, said portion having a rearwardly extending oblique edge and the rear of the upper edge of the sinker hook then curving steeply down to a horizontal loop sinking edge which lies behind the sinker throat and at the same level as, or higher than, a loop sinking point in front of the sinker hook; the lowest point of the said cutaway portion lying above sinker throat.

6. The method of producing knitted fabric on a circular, latch needle knitting machine, which comprises forming stitches by all needles in one stitch forming cycle; raisin-g predetermined needles to clear the stitches last formed thereby onto the stems of said needles and raising the remaining needles to tuck level then in a further stitchformin-g cycle and with the last formed course in front of sinker hooks, pulling longer loops by all needles on a loop-sinking point formed by a cutout in the sinker hook, thereby fiorming stitches by, and casting 01f stitches from, the said predetermined needles while the remaining needles retain the previously formed stitches in their hooks and form the thread to tuck loops; raising the needles so that the tuck loops each lie across one needle latch and over two sinkers, one on either side of the needle, while displacing the sinkers with said tuck loops in the said cutouts so as to urge the tuck loops against the latches of the needles while the needles are raised; controlling the upward movement of the needles and the displacement of the sinkers so that the said retained stitches are brought below the needle latches and onto the needle stems while the tuck loops remain above the tip of the needle latches, and knitting the tuck loops with stitches formed in the next stitch forming cycle.

References Cited by the Examiner MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

W. CARTER REYNOLDS, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC ON A CIRCULAR, LATCH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE, WHICH COMPRISES FORMING STITCHES BY ALL NEEDLES TO PROVIDE A COURSE OF STITCHES; RAISING PREDETERMINED NEEDLES TO CLEAR THE STITCHES LAST FORMED THEREBY FROM THE NEEDLE LATCHES ONTO THE STEMS OF SAID NEEDELS AND RAISING THE REMAINING NEEDLE TO TUCK LEVEL; THEN, WITH THE LAST FORMED COURSE IN FRONT OF SINKER HOOKS, PULLING THE THREAD TO LOOPS ON ALL NEEDLES ON A LOOPSINKING POINT ON OR BEHINED THE SINKER HOOKS, THEREBY FORMING STITCHES BY AND CASTING OFF STITCHES FROM THE SAID PREDETERMINED NEEDLES WHILE THE REMAINING NEEDLES RETAIN THE PREVIOUSLY FORMED STITCHES IN THEIR HOOKS AND BELOW THE SINKER HOOK AND FORM THE THREAD TO TUCK LOOPS; THEN RAISING ALL NEEDLES WITH THE SAID TUCK LOOPS EACH LYING ACROSS ONE NEEDLE AND OVER TWO SINKERS, ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE NEEDLE, WHILE SO DISPLACING THE SINKERS RELATIVE TO THE NEEDLE CIRCLE THAT THE SAID RETAINED STITCHES ARE BROUGHT BELOW THE NEEDLE LATCHES AND ONTO THE NEEDLE STEMS WHILE THE TUCK LOOPS REMAIN ON THE NEEDLE LATCHES, AND KNITTING THE TUCK LOOPS WITH STITCHES FORMED IN THE NEXT COURSE. 